Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture

Key Highlights

• ✓Features numerous interactive areas suitable for kids on all floors.
• ✓Showcases active science labs and workspaces where visitors can watch archeologists and biologists working on projects.
• ✓Includes a Biology floor with a dissection area (prep lab) where staff work on animals, often observed by children.
• ✓Each workspace is accompanied by a whiteboard providing information about the ongoing work.
• ✓Staff (e.g., Sophie, a Receptionist) are described as personable, knowledgeable, and welcoming.
• ✓The museum is well organized and prepared, with impressive organization across its three themed floors.
• ✓Offers special, temporary exhibits, such as the 'Rare Air' exhibit (running through March 31, 2025), which is highly recommended for bird, bee, or bat enthusiasts.
• ✓Free parking is available on Sundays.

Standout Features

• ⭐Interactive zones and hands-on learning opportunities.
• ⭐Visible science labs with real archeologists and biologists at work.
• ⭐A dedicated dissection prep lab on the Biology floor providing a unique educational experience.
• ⭐Clear thematic organization by floor: Arts & Culture (1F), Biology (2F), Paleontology & Archaeology (3F).
• ⭐Knowledgeable and friendly staff enhance the visitor experience.
• ⭐Temporary, well-curated exhibits like 'Rare Air' add value and encourage repeat visits.
• ⭐Availability of free parking on Sundays.

Perfect For

Ideal For

🍎Food Policy

• • Food and drink are available from Off the Rez Café.
• • Outside food is permitted inside the museum in the Cascade Room and Lower Lobby, or outside.
• • Food and drink (including water bottles) are not permitted in the galleries.

🛡️Safety Policy

• • Avoid touching exhibits without a designated hand sign for touchable materials.
• • Abusive, harassing, discriminatory, or threatening words or behaviors toward staff or visitors are not tolerated.
• • Follow the instructions of museum staff.
• • Keep doorways and hallways accessible to other visitors.
• • No weapons of any kind are allowed on the university campus, regardless of licenses or permits.
• • No smoking or vaping is allowed on the university campus, except in designated smoking areas.
• • Shoes, tops, and bottoms must be worn while inside the Burke Museum; no bathing suit attire is permitted.
• • No lighter-than-air (helium) balloons of any kind are allowed.
• • No plant material (flowers, branches, leaves, or other organic material, including cut flowers) is allowed in the galleries.

📅Booking Policy

• • Pre-purchased, online tickets are encouraged.
• • A limited number of walk-up tickets are available on a first come, first-served basis as space allows.
• • Book tickets in advance to visit at your ideal time and skip the line on busy days (e.g., weekends, Free First Thursdays).
• • Visitors may arrive at any time during the hour of their reserved time slot and stay for as long as they'd like.

🚗Parking Information

• • Closest visitor parking: UW N1 lot, adjacent to the Burke Museum. Pay by machine (credit card) or pay-by-phone app.
• • Other nearby UW lots: Central Plaza Garage (C1-C6, entrance at 15th Ave NE and NE 41st St) and N20-N21 Padelford Garage.
• • Street parking: Public pay-to-park lots within a few blocks. City of Seattle street parking (2-4 hour limits) along 15th Ave NE, 16th Ave NE, and 17th Ave NE.
• • Accessible Parking: Available in all UW parking lots. Closest accessible spaces are in UW lot N1 (5 designated spaces on a first-come, first-served basis).
• • Bus Parking: Limited and must be reserved in advance (contact Visitor Services at burkevis@uw.edu or 206.616.8616).
• • UW Parking Rates (effective 2025–2026, view online for current rates):
• • - Weekdays 6 a.m. – 4 p.m.: $5/hr or $21 all day; $7 flat fee after 4 p.m.
• • - Saturdays until noon: $7 flat fee (except C1-C6 Central Plaza Garage: $14 flat fee).
• • - Saturdays after noon and all day Sundays: FREE.
• • Note: N1 parking lot adjacent to the Burke will be closed until 10 a.m. on Sunday, October 5 (Alaska Airlines Dawg Dash). Increased campus traffic and limited parking expected until ~11:30 a.m. on this date and during UW Husky football games (Sept 6, Sept 27, Oct 10, Oct 25, Nov 15, Nov 19).